Shite in Miniature II

[Dick Cheeseburger]

6 minutes ago, andrew e said:

Porsche wheels or BBS cross spokes should be an easy find in 1:43 for the Conrad Scirocco. Unless you can find some Pirelli P wheels in 1:43 which would look ace. This colour too!

Oof. That looks very much like Monza blue - it was only used on mk2 Golfs from 1986 to 1987. I didn't realise Sciroccos had it on the colour options list too, unless it's a respray...

Gorgeous colour, regardless. 

[AndyW201]

Shock horror! A bit of variety at Smyths in Stockton. Yes, there is still peg upon peg of unpopular Hot Wheels stuff  from the Crass & Spurious, EuroSpeed and Formula 1 ranges, but it was nice to see new Silver Series ranges in (Vintage Racing Club and Compact Kings). Naturally the scalpers' favourites had gone like the rusty Porsche and the Compact Kings Fiesta and Civic, but I was tempted by the rusty Beetle, it's a lovely casting.

But then I saw this,

There were loads of these in Smyths at one time. Of course by the time I'd stopped pissing about mithering about paying £18 for a six pack of Hot Wheels and decided I wanted one, they'd had a refit and there were none of these to be found. But tonight I spotted this lone box buried behind a load of the Zamac sets. So I grabbed it, and it was still at the reduced price. 

A good set this, all castings that have been seen before, but they're all good 'uns and the Silver Series treatment means more lovely detail and in some cases, better wheels.

Is this a different casting to the recent red F&F Integra?

My favourite one out of this selection. It's a little honey.

[andrew e]

33 minutes ago, Dick Cheeseburger said:

Oof. That looks very much like Monza blue - it was only used on mk2 Golfs from 1986 to 1987. I didn't realise Sciroccos had it on the colour options list too, unless it's a respray...

Gorgeous colour, regardless. 

Its a fantastic colour!

https://autocatalogarchive.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/VW-Scirocco-16V-1985-CH.pdf

[MAF260]

52 minutes ago, andrew e said:

Porsche wheels or BBS cross spokes should be an easy find in 1:43 for the Conrad Scirocco. Unless you can find some Pirelli P wheels in 1:43 which would look ace. This colour too!

https://www.instagram.com/p/CHDdU40Dykc/

[AndyW201]

While at Smyths, I was having a bit of a chat with one of the managers. She was on about the latest Team Transport with the Ferarri 250 GTO (the one thats currently going for upwards of £70 on  various selling sites). They've got people ringing up every day asking when they're coming in, they're getting put on the pegs overnight, and the minute the shop opens, they're gone, and there are people queuing up outside the shop waiting for it to open, They've also had to limit them to 1 per person. Crackers...

Probably explains why when I go, usually on a Saturday, all the sought after stuff is gone. Sadly, I work from 8 till 8 (often later) on a weekday, including 2 days a week in Scotland in the truck, so I'm buggered. Just have to grab what I can, when I can. On that subject,

Now and again, there will be the odd one of something I'm after, lurking at the back of a peg. Smyths had a few of this recent Boulevard range in.

Sadly, no Primeras at all (I wasnt expecting otherwise TBH...), the Firebird is nice, but apart from the Real Riders, it's too much like the recent mainline release. Anyway, this Merc is the one I've been REALLY wanting, it's been out of reach to me so far due to it being £18 on AliExpress and even more on eBay...

Always nice to get a new casting, especially a Merc.

The cross-spoke wheels look a bit gawky on the card art, but they're not bad on the car itself.

[bunglebus]

Anyone want the jigsaw puzzle from ages ago? The Mrs is listing everything not bolted down on Vinted 

[FakeConcern]

13 hours ago, danthecapriman said:

I’d change the wheels at least if that were mine. They’re not exactly it’s strong point! Look for a cheapo Altaya or Deagostini etc vehicle to rob the wheels off since it’s 1:43. I’ve done it a few times now robbing wheels off those cheap Russian taxi’s!

The R16 bonnet doesn’t look all that bad in the pic. 
It’d probably have created a better mould if you could’ve got the pattern one off the other model but not worth risking breaking that one too. Could you put some fine filler on to reshape it a bit?

I do always look through cheap tat boxes in toy fairs, boot fairs and charity shops for suitable wheel donors, but rarely come up with anything. I've just looked at ebay for Altaya or Deagostini  models and they're quite pricey or at least more pricey than me channeling @eddyramrod is prepared to pay!

Yes I tried my best to get it off including gentle filing, but no go. I had filled it a few times, which is I think partly how the crisp edge to bonnet moulding got lost. It;s so time consuming as I'm sure you know as a guide coat of paint has to be used each time (allowing to dry each time) before sanding down etc 

13 hours ago, andrew e said:

Porsche wheels or BBS cross spokes should be an easy find in 1:43 for the Conrad Scirocco. Unless you can find some Pirelli P wheels in 1:43 which would look ace. This colour too!

That looks lovely! I can't decide if it's the same colour my mate had as a company car and just found a pic on this thread (defo worth a look if you've not seen it, lots of great content by many posters) 

 

12 hours ago, MAF260 said:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CHDdU40Dykc/

That Insta account looks very interesting, I need to have a proper look at it, I saw it said about contacting for 3d printed wheels, but couldn't see any mention of price.

[bunglebus]

The Mrs went shopping for me while I was on the ferry to NI

Entertainer had two A cases in 👍🏻

[andy18s]

20 hours ago, AndyW201 said:

Shock horror! A bit of variety at Smyths in Stockton. Yes, there is still peg upon peg of unpopular Hot Wheels stuff  from the Crass & Spurious, EuroSpeed and Formula 1 ranges, but it was nice to see new Silver Series ranges in (Vintage Racing Club and Compact Kings). Naturally the scalpers' favourites had gone like the rusty Porsche and the Compact Kings Fiesta and Civic, but I was tempted by the rusty Beetle, it's a lovely casting.

But then I saw this,

There were loads of these in Smyths at one time. Of course by the time I'd stopped pissing about mithering about paying £18 for a six pack of Hot Wheels and decided I wanted one, they'd had a refit and there were none of these to be found. But tonight I spotted this lone box buried behind a load of the Zamac sets. So I grabbed it, and it was still at the reduced price. 

A good set this, all castings that have been seen before, but they're all good 'uns and the Silver Series treatment means more lovely detail and in some cases, better wheels.

Is this a different casting to the recent red F&F Integra?

My favourite one out of this selection. It's a little honey.

The same set is €20 here in Bg,a bit much for only a couple that I would like.

[andy18s]

3 hours ago, bunglebus said:

The Mrs went shopping for me while I was on the ferry to NI

Entertainer had two A cases in 👍🏻

Is the Rs going spare?

[FakeConcern]

I've now skimmed over the R16 bonnet with filler, masking the central styling line with a bit of thin card the same as I did with the R12 bonnet (which was aluminium sheet). It looks much better to me now

[bunglebus]

Just been down a very odd internet rabbit hole, and found this, which is nothing to do with what I was looking for

Hartoy being an American importer of (usually) far Eastern die casts, it's a bit odd to see their name alongside Corgi, and Days Gone too. However it's the Juniors stuff that's really interesting. Ever seen that "sunburst" version of the Renault Van? Ilford MK3 Escort is pretty unusual too

Is that a black VW Polo? Along with an odd version of the Fox Mustang with larger rear wheels. A Corgi version of KITT?

I have seen the Merc with roof rack but not in red. The Transit with detailed headlights and a load cover is just pure fantasy though, surely? Next row features the hen's teeth Track Car Jaguar, and the bottom row a Sierra in a mystery livery

Last pic though, another new Capri livery, and the Buick Track Car with huge rear wheels. Are half of these just test pieces and prototypes that never saw the light of day?

Nurse!

[bunglebus]

No way!

[Split_Pin]

Those are the kind of cars that appear in weird dreams I have where I'm at a swapmeet, see loads of items I want, cannot decide and ultimately leave with nothing 😂

[sierraman]

54 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

Those are the kind of cars that appear in weird dreams I have where I'm at a swapmeet, see loads of items I want, cannot decide and ultimately leave with nothing 😂

I have these ones where I’m at a market and stumble over a load of rare stuff for pennies. Then I wake up I’ve actually got to go to work instead. 😂

[danthecapriman]

10 hours ago, bunglebus said:

No way!

I NEED that load cover for the yellow one I’m going to restore! 
 

Thats really cool though and I’ve seen one before. Although that one looks a much more basic moulding compared to the one in the catalog pic.

[sierraman]

6 minutes ago, danthecapriman said:

I NEED that load cover for the yellow one I’m going to restore! 
 

Thats really cool though and I’ve seen one before. Although that one looks a much more basic moulding compared to the one in the catalog pic.

I have the transit pick up but no load cover typically!

[danthecapriman]

4 minutes ago, sierraman said:

I have the transit pick up but no load cover typically!

I’ve never even seen one. Never knew it was even a thing to be honest.

Although now I’ve seen that, if you look in the bed area there’s some bits of the casting that look like they’re intended to hold the cover.

 

[danthecapriman]

The two bits inside the sides look like they’re intended plastic cover should push down against them and hold it in place. Possibly also the little raised bit under the cab rear window?

Ive often wondered what those bits were actually for. Maybe it is for a cover?

[bunglebus]

Right place, wrong day

[bunglebus]

Currently on a mission to deplete Belfast of all its stock of tiny cars. Poundland seem to be overrun with 2026 A case Hot Wheels and a nice selection of Matchbox too

BuM had lots of clips strips but I only bought a single, RHD, lights up Mr. Two

Smyths have had almost all of the Pantone Silverline series - just the Porsche that I'd like to find now if anyone spots it. Terrible back of van pics:

[155V6]

Loads more info on Juniors Transits on this site

[Datsuncog]

21 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Ever seen that "sunburst" version of the Renault Van?

Yup, found one at the market in January 2020:

It was in so-so shape. 

The sunburst deco was a bit raggy, so I tried to take it off with a dab of acetone and enjoy a plain blue Trafic, but it started to take the paint off while also not being able to get the gold spray out from the door shuts.

I think I offloaded it here for 10p or something, about a year later:

I'd no idea it was something out of the ordinary! 

I also still have the blue Hill Farm Transit, though the load bed cover got lost at some point in the 1990s. It was glued on - or, at least it was by the time I got hold of it - but I detached it only to find it wouldn't stay on. There were four little tabs which slid up against the four cast-in uprights, but not firmly enough to tension fit. 

Like your yellow version, it also got the Humbrol treatment... 

[Datsuncog]

On 05/11/2025 at 23:05, bunglebus said:

Hartoy being an American importer of (usually) far Eastern die casts, it's a bit odd to see their name alongside Corgi, and Days Gone too.

Another market archive shot, this time for the renamed Days Gone collection marketed by Hartoy under the 'Fantastic Set 'o' Wheels' branding:

I'd never heard of Hartoy before finding this one in 2023.

The UK spelling of 'favourite' rather than the US 'favorite' on the back of the blister card makes me suspect these were packed in Enfield, rather than shipped loose and packaged in the US. 

At a guess, Matchbox MoYs were selling well in the US by the mid-80s and it's possible that Lledo wanted to test the waters by partnering with an established importer/ distributor to get their products into stores too. 

If so, it probably made sense for Corgi to piggyback on to any diecast shipments going from GB to USA, as import fees and customs processing costs borne by Hartoy could be spread, allowing keener pricing. This would permit the newly restructured Corgi Toys Ltd lower-cost access to the US market for their goods, which had been lost when Mettoy went belly-up. 

Fascinating to see all the Corgi variations - guess we'll never know which were actually produced, and which only ever existed in the catalogue.

Could be a fascinating little sub-collection though, a bit like the Brazilian-made Kiko Corgis. 

[flat4alfa]

[Christine]

5 quid bag  chastity shop     There was 2 dinky Shadow 2  tracked things  7.50 each  enough to make one good one  . i left them ....

Should i go back? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[sierraman]

36 minutes ago, Christine said:

5 quid bag  chastity shop     There was 2 dinky Shadow 2  tracked things  7.50 each  enough to make one good one  . i left them ....

Should i go back? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Courier transporter worth that alone 

[Christine]

Matchbox k10 trailer and Leyland k120 tractor unit ..it's got steery wheels too!  Consul police car is missing wheels

[RoadworkUK]

I got that K120 / K10 combo as a prezzie when I was in hospital. It joined the 1:43 Solido Escort RS Turbo that I also had with me during my stay on the ward (tonsillectomy), and I seem to remember it fitting up the ramp just nicely.

[bunglebus]

3 hours ago, Christine said:

Should I go back? 

I would!